Sheet metal feeding device



R. VANISCHIE SHEET METAL FEEDING DEVICE July 31, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 15, 1949 hwmwa AWWEEEE July 31,1951 R. VAN SCHIE SHEET METAL FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iuveu'roa -Fi1ed' Dec. 15, 1949 y 31, 1951 R. VAN SCHIE 2,562,247

' SHEET METAL FEEDING DEVICE F iled Dec. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1; z 33 m 4 E E I l 44 4 45 4 fl i c 3/ J} 0 04-? 50 Fig. 5. 4? .35 a? 34 o (a l o ROBERT VAN Scum Aw'rckusvs \uvsu ow.

31', 1951 R. VAN SCHIE 2,562,247

SHEET METAL FEEDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvam'ow.

ROBERT V N Scum Jon kW Afiganiis Patented auly 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET METAL FEEDING DEVICE Robert Van Schie, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application December 15, 1949, Serial No. 133,179

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sheet metal feedin and processing device of the type relating generally to that shown in my pending application, Ser. No. 116,503, filed September 19, 1949, with improvements and betterments of the device shown in such pending application, and with additional cooperating mechanism for handling the sheet metal plates or the like after they are taken, one at a time, from a stack of them, for controlling their passage to processing means to act upon the plates connected and in operative association with the feed mechanism and from which, further, the processed plate may be removed and released prior to the processing of a succeeding plate. There is a rapid speed of operation for effecting large quantity production of the processed plates, with substantially the only labor performed being that of maintaining the fiat sheet metal plates ready for the taking of them in timed succession from a stack of plates, and also a similar removal of the sheet metal plates after they have been processed involving only the handling of the plates before and after the processing has taken place.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide an operative mechanism for the purposes described, and which carries out a novel method of handling the plates for such large quantity production, the mechanism being designed for automatic operation from the time the plates are moved, usually on a truck, into position at one end of the machine for action thereon until they are removed at the other end of the machine after they are completely processed.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete mechanism of my invention by means of which continuous processing of the sheet metal plates is accomplished,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, substantially centrally thereof, generally upon the plane of line 2--2 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical'section on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section substantially on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to. Fig. 4, showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the means used for removing the plates after they have been processed, the plate remover being shown at its outer position.

its corners by heavy foot members 14. Such bed Fig. 7 is a similar plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 at its inner position, at which it is ready to carry and remove a processed plate after operation thereon, and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section substantially on the plane of line 8-8 f Fig. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings. I

In the structure shown, a permanent frame is provided, including spaced side posts I, 2 and 3 (Fig. 1) connected at their upper ends by horizontal side bars 4, the posts and bars 4 forming sides of the frame which are spaced from and parallel to each other. A horizontal cross bar 5 is connected with the upper bars or rails 4 between the posts I and 2, and additional horizontal bars 6, below the bars 4 are connected therewith, one at each side of the bar 5. Between the bars 5 and substantially midway between the posts 2 and 3, a horizontal bar I (Fig. 2) is permanently secured. At the lower end portions of the posts 2, a vertically positioned relatively heavy plate 8 is located and secured. The lowerends of the posts I, 2 and 3 are permanently connected with any suitable floor or other support. In addition, as will hereafter appear, other cross bars extend between opposite posts of the two sides of the frame, making a sturdy and strong frame for the mechanism which is mounted thereon and which it supports.

At the lower portion of the frame, between the end posts I and the intermediate posts 2, the sheet metal plates ID are located when they are to be fed and processed after feeding. Such plates I0 shown as of rectangular form are preferably stacked one over the other upon the platform 9 of a wheeled truck. The truck is moved into position, being guided between vertically positioned guide members ll of metal, secured at their lower ends to the floor upon which the machine is installed. There are four of these guides II and those at one side have removable stops l2 adapted to be passed horizontally therethrough for a distance. The truck when moved is free to move between the posts I I which it first reaches, until stopped by the stop I2 on one of the other guides II, when it reaches them after which a member I2 which has been removed for entrance of the truck is replaced, thus holding the truck against. movement and at a proper position for the plates which are carried thereby to be removed, one after another by the feeding mechanism.

Between the posts 2 and 3, at the lower portion, a horizontal bed I3 is located supported at G3 at its upper side may have upwardly extending short spring actuated pins I5, one adjacent each corner, upon which the plates l8 may drop in succession and at which position they are processed, that is, have holes, slots, or other openings pierced therethrough, or the plates may be stamped and formed when so located. After they have been processed, they are successively removed.

Two spaced horizontal tracks ii are connected at one end to the previously described transverse plate 8. They extend beyond the posts 3, and outwardly therefrom are secured at their other ends to a transverse plate support ll, which is substantially a duplicate of the plate 8 and parallel thereto. It is on these tracks that a plate removing carriage is mounted for slidable movement. The tracks are spaced outwardly from the adjacent sides of the bed l3 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The carriage includes two elongated shoes I8 of an inverted angle form conforming to the upper sides of the tracks l6 and, at their outer ends, are connected together by a cross bar l9. An actuating bar 20 for the carriage is fastened at its inner end to a middle position on the bar [9 and passes slidably through the supporting plate I1. The carriage may be moved back and forth over the track bars l6 from "extreme outer to extreme inner position and vice versa, said bar 20 being of sufficient length for such purpose.

On each of the sliding shoes l8 a pair of spaced metal fingers 2| of the shape best shown in Fig. 5 are pivotally connected at one end. A bar 22, parallel to the shoe I8 below it, lies over each pair of fingers and has pivotal connections thereto at points between the ends of fingers. The bars 22 are of such a length that when the carriage is drawn outwardly to its extreme outward position, as shown in Fig. 6, the outer ends of the bars 22, striking the supporting plate ll, are moved longitudinally to swing the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 6, while on moving the carriag in the opposite direction to its extreme inner position, the inner ends of the bars 22 strike against the plate 8 moving them longitudinally in the opposite direction and swinging the fingers 2| into a parallel relation with each other, with their inner free ends underneath the plate 10 which has been processed. Such plate In rests upon the inner ends of the fingers 2| and is then moved outwardly until the outer ends of the bars 22 strike the supporting plate l1, automatically swinging the fingers 2| to disengage from the plate H), which is thereupon free to drop either to the floor or to a low wheeled truck or other equivalent device movable inwardly and outwardly to plate receiving position.

The bed I3 is a stable table or bed equivalent to that in a punch press, and upon which a lower die may be fixed, the sheets of material l delivered to it in timed succession, are to be acted thereon by a punch or cooperating upper die periodically forced downwardly and elevated, being moved downwardly when a sheet of material is in place to be processed. The pins I mounted in the table are spring actuated and held in upper position by the springs but will yield to move downwardly when the punch press operation and processing step occurs; and upon the elevation of the ram of the press will lift the processed plate to the normal upper position to which such pins carry it.

On the posts 2 and 3 above the bed or table I3 (Figs. 2 and 4), short supporting arms 23 are fixedly secured extending from each side inwardly toward each other. On a pair of such arms at each side of the frame a shaft 24 is mounted for rocking movement.

Th shafts 24 are horizontally located in the same plane and at the inner side of each a pair of bars 25 are connected at their upper ends extending downwardly, one bar 25 at each end of each shaft 24. Between the lower end portions of the pair of bars at each side of the machine, an angle bar 28, having a vertical and a horizontal fiange or leg, is permanently secured at its outer end having an end 2'! turned upwardly, and at its inner end an upwardly inclined section 21a, inclined to the horizontal lower flange, as shown in Fig. 2.

A punch press head or ram 28 is carried at the lower end of a vertical rod 29 which extends upwardly and is guided through the bar 1. Links 30 at one end of the head or ram 28 are pivotally connected thereto and extend downwardly and have a pivotal connection to the opposite angle bars 26. The head 28 being shown in upper position in Fig. 4, the lower or horizontal flanges or legs of the bars 26 are in the same horizontal plane. When the ram is moved downwardly for processing a plate In, the downward movement of the head moves the links 38 outwardly, as in Fig. 5, rocking the shafts'24 and separating the angle bars 26. A plate III as in Fig. 4 which is supported by the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 26 is released and comes to the bed l3 shortly before the head or ram 28, carrying the punches or dies to process the plate, reaches such plate as occurs when the head 28 is in its lowermost position.

In the space between the posts I and 2 a carriage is mounted for vertical movements having two parallel spaced bars 3| connected at and between their ends by cross bars 32 and from which, at each corner, a vertical bar 33 extends upwardly. The bars 33 are slidably guided in angle guides 34 which are fixed to cross frame bars 35, one between the end posts I and the other between the end posts 2. The bar substantially midway between the ends of the frame has underneath it a stirrup 32a made of fiat metal which depends below the frame having its vertical end legs connected with the side bars 3|. A rod 36 is connected to the intermediate or middle cross bar 32 and is designed to be operated in the direction of its length to raise and lower the frame, in timed relation with the vertical reciprocatory movement of the rod 29 as it is raised and lowered, for example, as a punch press ram is operated.

At the inner side of each of the bars 3|, toward each end thereof, short supports 31 are securely connected'on each of which an irregularly shaped lever 38 is pivotally mounted between its ends. Each lever 38 has a downwardly extending lower terminal end at an angle to the remainder of the lever. At the inner side of the juncture of the two annular parts of each lever, a notch 39 is made. At the upper end of each lever a bar 40 is securely connected which, upon elevation of the frame, comes to the bars 6 so as to turn the levers 38 automatically away from each other at their lower ends. Said levers are normally held at an inner position toward each other by compression springs ll between them and the frame sides 3|, and are normally stopped by screws 42 adjustably interposed in their paths of movement, which screws are carried by the .75 vertically movable horizontal frame.

' The posts I and 2 Between the posts I and 2 at each side of the main frame of the machine, and toward the upper ends thereof, short supporting bars 43, horizontally located, are permanently secured,

four of them being used, and each connected to its associated post betweenits ends (Fig. 3) at each side of the machine therefor, carry a pair of the supporting bars 43. Between such bars of each pair a rock shaft 44 is mounted adjacent the inner ends of the bars. Each rock shaft 44 has a heavy wire rod 48 attached to it, the two rods 45 extendin inwardly toward each other and having their free end portions in the path of upward movement of the parts 3| of the previously described frame. Two downwardly extending relatively wide bars 48 and 41, the bars 48 being longer than the bars 41, are permanently secured at their upper ends to each rock shaft 44 extending downwardly therefrom. The shorter bars 41 are adjacent the end of the machine and the longer bars 48 adjacent the posts 2. An angle carrier 48 is connected at each side of the machine to the lower end portions of the different length bars 48 and 41 at each side of the machine, said bars 48 inclining downwardly from their outer vends. When the carrying bars 48 are moved inwardly toward each other, being movedin such direction when the frame bars 3| in their upward movement reach the rods 45, their lower inwardly extending legs or flanges are in an inclined plane substantially coincident with the angularly disposed section 21a of the angle bars 28. Rods 49, lengthwise of and at the upper sides of the inwardly extending legs or the bars 48 are secured thereto so as to lessen friction between a plate l dropped thereon and which, when it is dropped, will slide by gravity and will be received on the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 28..

Between the bars 43 at each side of the machine a fixed bar 80 is secured, one paralleling each rock shaft 44. A screw 5| passes through each bar 50 and at its inner end will come against a bar 48 when the shafts 44 and the parts connected therewith are rocked to swing angle bars 48 outwardly by tension springs 52, one connected to each of the bars 48 at one end and at the other end of the horizontal fixed bars 50, the screws 5i serving as stops to limit such outward swinging movement.

In the operation, with the truck 9 carrying the plates It] as in Fig. 1-, on downward movement of the rod 38, operated in any suitable manner by hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical operation, the levers 38 coming to the uppermost plate ID are engaged with it at opposite edges, such edges entering the recesses at 39.

Upon elevating the rod 38 and connected mechanism, the plate is lifted until theupper ends of the arms 40 come against the bars 6, this automatically movin the levers 38 outwardly away from each other and from the plate so that the plate i8 is released to fall by gravity. Before such upper position is reached, the bars ii of the frame connected with the rod 38 come to the free ends of the rods 45, rocking shafts 44 and bringing the lower flanges or legs of the angle bars 48 into position for the plate It! to drop thereon and slide downwardly over the rods 49 and be delivered to the horizontal legs of the angle bars 28. When such delivery is made, the head 28 is in upper position with the bars 28 located properly to receive the plate l0.

When the plate It reaches and is held in the horizontal position of the horizontal legs of the angle bars 28, it is ready for downward movement of the rod 28 and attached head 28 to move from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that in Fig. 5. Through the links 30, bars 28 are swung outwardly at their lower ends and shafts 24 rocked, separating the angle bar carriers 28 of the platefrom each other, whereupon plate It being released, drops upon the spring actuated pins l5 projecting upwardly from bed ll in position to be processed upon the completion of the downward movement of the head 28 which carries the processing punches or dies used. The'head 28 and the rod 29 thereafter move upwardly to the upper position shown in Fig. 4, andjsubstantially simultaneously the. rod 38, attached frame and other parts move upwardly, carrying a plate III in such upward movement i'ea'dy to be delivered to the angle bar carriers 28 upon completion of the upward movement, The upward and downward movements of the rods 29 and 38 occur substantially at the same time.

During the upward movements of the rods 28 and rods 38, and the parts attached thereto, and after they have reached upper positions, the plate i0, previously processed and over the table or bed I3 is removed by moving the carriage, having the sliding shoes l8, cross bar l9 and other parts from its outer position, shown in FigS. 2 and 6, to the inner position shown in Fig. 7, the fingers 2| automatically swinging underneath the edge portions of the processed plate 20. ,Then by moving the plate carriage outwardly until the outer ends of the bars 22 strike against the support H the bed I3 is cleared for the droppingv of a succeeding plate "I to be processed, and the processed plate, when it reaches outer position somewhat beyond that shown in Fig. 2, is automatically released and drops to the floor or any carrier underneath it.

With the structure described, the handling and feeding of sheet metal plates to 'a processing machine of a nature similar to that of a punch press is readily accomplished, eliminating the necessity of the hands and fingers of human operators for such purpose.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a combination, a movable plate edge gripper mounted for vertical reciprocation, adapted in lower position to grip a plate at opposed edges and having means cooperating therewith, on elevation to upper position, to release the plate, inclined carrying ways for receiving the released plate for it to move downwardly and outwardly, a vertically reciprocable processing head, opposed, spaced plate receiving means located at opposite sides of said head for receiving a plate coming from said ways thereto when said head is in upper position, means for mounting said plate receiving means for swinging movement inward and outward toward each other, connections between said head and said plate receiving means for moving them inwardly toward each other in position to receive a plate on upward movement of said head, and for separating them to release the plate on downward movement of the head, and a bed below said head upon which the plate is dropped upon separating the plate receiving means, said bed and said head being adapted to have connected therewith processing means for acting upon the plate of said head to lowerthe upper ends of said bars are connected, linksat opposed sides of the head connected thereto a tone end and to said angle bar carrying members at their other ends whereby said angle bar carrying members are swung inwardly toward each other and outwardly away from each other on the up and down movements, respectively, of said head, said angle bar carrying members being located to receive a plate passing down said ways thereto when the head is in upper position, and releasing said plate to fall by gravity upon separation of the carrying members on downward movement of the head.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, a bed below said head, said bed and head at their upper and lower sides, respectively, being adapted to carry plate processing means, horizontal tracks mounted at opposite sides of said bed extending outwardly beyond the supporting frame, a carriage on said tracks and means mounted on said carriage for engaging a processed plate when the carriage is moved inwardly for removal of the plate outwardly, and means for automatically releasing the plate to drop by gravity upon the carriage reaching its outer position.

4. In a structure as described, a vertical supporting frame, a processing head within said frame, a rod connected therewith extending upwardly adapted to be reciprocated vertically in the direction of its length on said frame, rock shafts carried by said frame, one at each of two opposed sides of the head, spaced bars connected to said rock shafts extending downwardly, angle bars horizontally located, secured at the lower ends of said spaced bars, said angle bars having legs adapted to other when said bars are in vertical position, links at opposite sides of the head connected at one end thereto and at their opposite ends to said angle bars, whereby on upward movement of the head said angle bars are moved inwardly toward each other and on downward movement swung outwardly away from each other.

5. In a structure as described, a frame including spaced vertical posts and horizontal connections between the posts at their upper ends, a processing head mounted for vertical reciprocation on said frame, said head being located between the posts, two rock shafts located, one at one side of the head and the other at the opposite side thereof mounted on said posts, bars secured at their upper ends to said rock shafts and spaced from each other extending downwardly, angle bars having vertical and horizontal flanges at right angles to each other secured to the lower ends of said spaced bars, said horizontal flanges at one end, being extended upwardly, and at the other end extending upwardly and extend inwardly toward each at an inclined angle to the horizontal, links connected to said head, one at each side thereof. at the upper ends, and extending to and connected with said angle bars at an end thereof, whereby upon upward movement of said head said angle bars are swung inwardly toward each other and on downward movement are swung outwardly away from each other and an inclined guiding means adjacent the inclined end portions of said horizontal legs of said angle bars extending away therefrom and located in position, whereby a plate sliding down said inclined guide ways is received upon the horizontal legs of said horizontal bars when the head is in upper position, said downwardly upon head.

downward movement of the 6. A structure as defined in claim 4, and a bed below said head upon which a released plate is received in position to be acted upon said head of its downward movement, said being adapted to have connected therewith processing means for processing the plate.

7. In a structure of the class described, a supporting frame comprising, a plurality of vertical posts spaced from each other both lengthwise frame, and horizontal bars connecting the posts, an operating means slidably mounted for vertical movements upon posts at one end of the frame and upon intermediate posts of said frame, means carried thereby for engaging a plate at opposed edges to lift the plate upon vertical movement of said opceive a plate sliding down said head is in upper position, and means connecting said head and said plate receiving members for separating said plate receiving members and rocking said shaft to release the plate to fall by gravity on downward movement of the head.

ROBERT VAN SCHIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS guides when said Number Name Date 946,584 Smith Jan. 18, 1910 1,016,932 Cahill Feb. 13, 1912 1,689,760 Young Oct. 30, 1928 2,275,561 Sahlin Mar. 10, 1942 2,314,124 Butterfield Mar. 16, 1943 plate being released to drop, 

